Vyvanse

Pharmacist Anyssa S. Garza, PharmD overviews the uses and common side effects of Vyvanse

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Vyvanse

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CNS Stimulants

Vyvanse

Pharmacist Anyssa S. Garza, PharmD overviews the uses and common side effects of Vyvanse

CNS Stimulants

Pharmacist Teresa Brucker, PharmD summarizes the uses, common side effects, and warnings for the CNS Stimulants class of medications

Vyvanse Overview

Updated: June 26, 2015

Vyvanse is a prescription medication used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Vyvanse is also used to treat binge-eating disorder in adults.

Vyvanse belongs to a group of drugs called central nervous system stimulant medications which help increase attention, decrease impulsiveness, and decrease hyperactivity in people with ADHD, by changing amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

This medication comes in capsule form and is taken once daily, in the morning.

Common side effects of Vyvanse include dizziness, irritability, and nausea.

Vyvanse Interactions

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you or your child take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you or your child takes:

anti-depression medicines including MAOIs

anti-psychotic medicines

lithium

blood pressure medicines

seizure medicines

narcotic pain medicines

Know the medicines that you or your child takes. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start any new medicine while taking Vyvanse without talking to your doctor first.

Vyvanse Precautions

Vyvanse is a stimulant medicine. The following have been reported with use of stimulant medicines.

Heart-related problems:

sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects

stroke and heart attack in adults

increased blood pressure and heart rate

Tell your doctor if you or your child have any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems.

Your doctor should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting Vyvanse.

Your doctor should check you or your child's blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with Vyvanse.

Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Vyvanse.

Mental (Psychiatric) problems:

All Patients:

new or worse behavior and thought problems

new or worse bipolar illness

new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility

Children and Teenagers

new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, are suspicious) or new manic symptoms

Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.

Call your doctor right away if you or your child have any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems while taking Vyvanse, especially seeing or hearing things that are not real, believing things that are not real, or are suspicious.

Vyvanse should not be taken if you or your child:

have heart disease or hardening of the arteries

have moderate to severe high blood pressure

have hyperthyroidism

have an eye problem called glaucoma

are very anxious, tense, or agitated

have a history of drug abuse

are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI.

is sensitive to, allergic to, or had a reaction to other stimulant medicines

Vyvanse has not been studied in children less than 6 years old. Vyvanse is not recommended for use in children less than 3 years old.

Vyvanse may not be right for you or your child. Before starting Vyvanse tell your or your child's doctor about all health conditions (or a family history of) including:

Vyvanse Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Vyvanse there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Vyvanse .

Vyvanse and Pregnancy

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Vyvanse falls into category C. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Vyvanse. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Vyvanse and Lactation

Vyvanse has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Vyvanse, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Vyvanse Usage

Take Vyvanse exactly as prescribed. Vyvanse comes in 6 different strength capsules. Your doctor may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child.

Take Vyvanse once a day in the morning.

Vyvanse can be taken with or without food.

From time to time, your doctor may stop Vyvanse treatment for a while to check ADHD symptoms.

Your doctor may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking Vyvanse. Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking Vyvanse. Vyvanse treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.

Vyvanse Dosage

Take Vyvanse exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.

The recommended starting dose is 30 mg once daily in the morning in patients ages 6 and above. Dosage may be adjusted in increments of 10 mg or 20 mg at approximately weekly intervals up to maximum dose of 70 mg/day; Doses greater than 70 mg/day have not been studied.

Dosage should be individualized according to the therapeutic needs and response of the patient. Vyvanse should be administered at the lowest effective dosage. The least amount of Vyvanse feasible should be prescribed or dispensed at one time in order to minimize the possibility of overdosage.

Vyvanse Overdose

Other Requirements

Store Vyvanse in a safe place at room temperature, 59 to 86° F (15 to 30° C). Protect from light.Keep Vyvanse and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Vyvanse is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep Vyvanse in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Vyvanse may harm others, and is against the law.

Vyvanse FDA Warning

AMPHETAMINES HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. ADMINISTRATION OF AMPHETAMINES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME MAY LEAD TO DRUG DEPENDENCE AND MUST BE AVOIDED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUBJECTS OBTAINING AMPHETAMINES FOR NONTHERAPEUTIC USE OR DISTRIBUTION TO OTHERS, AND THE DRUGS SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED OR DISPENSED SPARINGLY.

MISUSE OF AMPHETAMINE MAY CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR ADVERSE EVENTS.

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